Fantasy Football Sidekick: Double captain Haaland as Man City welcome Leicester

Fantasy Football Sidekick returns this week as we pick out five players to consider for your Fantasy Premier League side this weekend. Stars from Manchester United, Manchester City, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Everton all come into consideration. 

Emiliano Martinez - Aston Villa (vs Newcastle) 

Aston Villa welcome Newcastle to Villa Park to kick off the weekend's Premier League action on Saturday afternoon. Villa have been hugely impressive of late, with Saturday's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest extending their unbeaten run to seven matches, winning six. At home, they haven't been the most solid this season, but of late, they have far tougher to break down. 

Villa have kept three successive clean sheets at Villa Park, while goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez's good performances between the sticks has pushed him into the top 10 of the WhoScored form rakings. The Magpies will be tough to ground this weekend, but a busy Martinez could help you earn big points this weekend. 

Michael Olise - Crystal Palace (vs Southampton) 

A 4-1 mauling at the hands of Manchester City last time out saw Southampton remain bottom of the Premier League table, four points from safety. Saints have collected fewer home points (10) than any other Premier League side this season, and have conceded at least four more home goals (28) than any other team. 

By contrast, Crystal Palace have started to pull away from danger following back-to-back wins to usher in Roy Hodgson's return to Selhurst Park. Palace have scored seven goals in those two victories, with Michael Olise involved in three, registering a hat-trick of assists aginst Leeds last weekend. Seven of the 10 goals Olise has been directly involved in have come away from home, so another direct goal contribution can't be ruled out at St. Mary's on Saturday. 

Michael Keane - Everton (vs Fulham) 

A run of one win in seven leaves Everton outside of the relegation zone on goal difference only, but they can at least call upon a solid record at Goodison Park to ease their push for safety. Indeed, the Toffees have won three and lost just one of their last five on Merseyside, and conceded just three times in that run, keeping three clean sheets in the process. 

Michael Keane's return to the side has been key at both ends of the pitch. Keane has been directly involved in two goals in his six league starts this season, including a thumping equaliser in Everton's 1-1 draw with Tottenham at the start of April. Everton host a Fulham side that have lost their drive in recent weeks and have now lost their last five. Without top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Toffees will be confident of shutting the Cottagers out this weekend. 

Erling Haaland - Manchester City (vs Leicester) 

If you haven't got him in your side already, or if - like me - you forgot to transfer him back into your side following the international break, now is the time for Erling Haaland. Haaland reached the 30-goal barrier at Southampton last weekend, and is now within four goals of Alan Shearer and Andy Cole for the most Premier League goals scored in a Premier League season. 

It's feasible to suggest Haaland will reach the 34-goal mark against lowly Leicester this weekend. The Foxes may have appointed Dean Smith as interim boss this week, yet they remain mired on an eight-game winless run, losing seven. There are almost always goals between City and Leicester at the Etihad, and with Haaland on the prowl, he'll certainly be among them. Be sure to captain the City hitman, too, for double points. 

Bruno Fernandes - Manchester United (vs Nottingham Forest) 

Manchester United threw away a two-goal lead to draw with Sevilla in midweek, and lost centre-backs Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez to injury in the process. To compound matters, Marcus Rashford remains sidelined, so there is greater onus on Bruno Fernandes to provide the quality in the final third for Erik ten Hag's side. 

Fernandes hasn't been directly involved in a league goal since his pair of assists against Leicester back in February, but has still been in good form for club and country in both domestic and continental competition. The Portugal international netted when United last faced Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, scoring his side's third in their 3-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg win, and he'll be the creator in chief for Ten Hag's side once more this weekend.